What to drink to prevent a hangover?

Question

I really don't like going out drinking but nearly all social events seem to revolve around getting drunk. My boyfriend, house mates, work colleagues and mates all love going to the pub. Alcohol just makes me feel sleepy and then I get a headache. If I say I just fancy a soft drink, people look at you as if you're mad so I always end up drinking to join in and keep people quiet. I then never sleep properly and feel ill all day. What are the best drinks to have to avoid getting too drunk and prevent a hangove? Im fed up with every social event being an ordeal and wasting my weekend with a hangover when I don't really enjoy drinking in the first place?!

Answer 1

So take control of your life. Order water or a soda, if someone looks at you funny SO WHAT?? Is it your life or theirs?

Answer 2

If you dont like drinking, then dont. Thats the simple answer. As for avoiding a hangover, try drinking at least a pint of water before going to sleep. This will help to stop the de-hydration occurring that causes a hangover.
Another good tip is to drink water in between each or every 2 or 3 alcoholic drinks.
Some drinks leave you with a worse hangover than others (I avoid rum like the plague) and mixing your drinks is always a bad idea.

Answer 3

You have to alternate your drinks with water. Drink a ton of water WHILE you're drinking, not just before or after. Part of the reason you get a hangover is because alcohol is a diuretic and you have to replace all the water that is filtering the toxins out of your kidneys. If you alternate each drink with a large glass of water you will not only drink less throughout the night which will help but replacing all the water you lose will ensure that you don't feel like hell the next day. Don't believe that drinking coffee or a drink the next day will help. That's a bunch of crap.

Answer 4

If U really do not enjoy drinking and at the same time do not want to appear as kinda un social, just hide yr drinks!
I do drink occassionaly now but when I was new to drinks my friends wanted to see me drunk. I just took few very light sips or just made a show of sipping and then hid the glass under my chair or other places. In a party every one is high and are not really giong to notice what the hell u do with yr glass. In fact they start admiring how much I can hold! Cheers

Answer 5

K, your problem is mainly a social thing. It seems like pubs aren't your scene in the first place, hang out in differnet places with them instead!

If you are REALLY intent on hanging out in the pubs, then we move onto the drinks. even if people look at you funny for ordering a soft drink instead of a beer, the worst they can think of you is taht you're wasting more money buying a soft drink there instead of at the market, where it is cheaper. there isn't anything really wrong with that.

If you actually WANT to start drinking, to prevent getting drunk and therefore getting a hangover, eat a lot, drink water in between each drink/shot, and don't keep switching your drinks, stay with one. Stay with beers if you don't want to get drunk too fast, and keep with the low alcohol percentage.

Answer 6

Ideally avoidance of alcohol is best but if you feel obliged to have an alcoholic drink then a clear alcohol is generally best eg. vodka, gin, white rum with a mixer.

One of the major contributors to a hangover are compounds called congenors found in alcoholic drinks. Dark drinks like brandy, port and red wine contain the largest amount of congenors and therefore often result in the most severe hangovers.

Drink plenty of water too.

Answer 7

Don't give into the peer pressure!!! Seriously, if you don't want to drink, stand up for yourself. It sucks being hungover on the weekend. If you do drink, don't mix! All alcohol is potentially hangover-inducing and depending on the person different drinks are worse. Don't drink pre-bottled/canned drinks. Basics like beer or wine are best I think. I think it's great that you aren't caught up in the alcohol trap - keep it that way and your body and mind will thank you.

Answer 8

If you dont fancy drinking then dont drink. I understand there is social pressure but maybe you could claim an illness prevents you drinking.
Alternatively why not get yor first drink with a lemonade mixer. Maybe white wine and lemonade. then the next time you get a drink just get a lemonade this way people think you are still on the wine but really it's just lemonade.

Answer 9

drink something light like alcopops, not much alcohol in them hardly enough to get you drunk anyway. i drink a lot and usually find wine gets me most drunk and gives me a hangover so i dont drink that anymore and wouldnt recommend it either! beers not too bad either. it just depends on how much you can handle. make sure before you start drinking you eat something. ive heard drinking a glass of milk beforehand lines your stomach and helps you stop feeling ill afterwards. drink slowly and if you start feeling ill, stop or drink water or eat something. if you really dont want to drink though then dont let them pressurise you into it whatever they say, its your body and your choice.

Answer 10

Drink LIGHT beer but only after you've eaten a good amount. Also, drink a glass of water between each beer and you'll be 100% the next day.

Answer 11

I agree with some of these answers mainly about peer pressure. For god sakes, grow some balls and just say no. If you dont want to drink, dont do it. But if you feel you must, try this remedy, take two aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, any over the counter pain reliever right before you go to bed. It's always worked for me.